Laminated sole structure having controlled slippage



F. J. DIAMANT LAMiNATED SOLE STRUCTURE HAVING CONTROLLED SLIPPAGE Filed June 1 9', l96l 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.2

INVENTOR. FREDERICK J. DIAMANT ATTORNEY F. J. DIAMANT April .2, 1963 LAMINATED SOLE STRUCTURE HAVING CONTROLLED SLIPPAGE Filed June 19, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

INVENTOR. FREDERICK J. DIAMANT MMM ATTORNEY United States Patent Oilice 3,933,477. Patented Apr. 2, 1963 3,0s3,477 LATED SOLE STRUCTURE HAVING CONTRGLLED SLIPPAGE Frederick J. Diamant, New York, N.Y. Filed June 19, 1961, Ser. No. 117,990 6 Claims. (Ci. 36-28) This invention relates to a shoe, and more particularly, to a shoe having a cushioned sole with means being provided to control slippage between the layers of the sole.

Numerous forms of shoes have been proposed heretofore wherein cushioning means such as a layer of foam rubber is provided in the sole of the shoe. The provision of such a cushioning means greatly increases the comfort of the shoe particularly to those people who stand on their feet for great lengths of time or do a considerable amount of walking. When a shoe of this nature has been worn for a considerable period of time, the constant rubbing applied to the insole by the ball of the foot of the wearer causes slippage between the insole and the layer of the sole juxtaposed thereto. The slippage causes a separation between the insole and the layer of the sole juxtaposed thereto, more commonly found in the form of a crease, wrinkle, or buckling of the insole. Thereafter, the comfort of the shoe is materially decreased since the wrinkle or buckle of the insole is a source of irritation to the ball of the foot.

The present invention seeks to overcome the above mentioned disadvantage of the shoes proposed heretofore by providing a positive slippage control means. The slippage control means of the present invention comprises a closed loop of stitching extending through the insole and the layer of the sole juxtaposed thereto in that portion of the insole which is adapted to support the ball of the foot.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe having a novel cushioned sole.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe having a novel cushioned sole with positive means being provided to prevent slippage between the insole and the layer of the sole juxtaposed thereto.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel laminated structure for use in shoes wherein positive means is provided to prevent slippage between layers thereof.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shoe made in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 33 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a laminated structure comprising the insole and a layer of foam resin secured thereto.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a shoe designated generally as 10.

The shoe comprises an upper which may take the form of any of the well known and conventional uppers proposed heretofore. For purposes of illustration, the upper for the shoe 10 is shown as being of the type comprising a back-strap 12 having a buckle 14 thereon and a cooperating cross-strap 16. The upper as illustrated in FIGURE 1 also includes a vamp 18 which lacks a toe cap. Accordingly, it will be seen that the shoe 10 is a toeless, heelless Wedgie type sport shoe.

The shoe 10 is provided with a sole designated generally as 20. The sole 20 includes an outsole 22. A laminated structure designated generally as 23 having the same contour as the outsole 22 is adhesively secured thereto.

The laminated structure 23 includes a layer of canvas 24 fused to or adhesively secured to a layer of foam synthet-ic resin 26 such as foam polyurethane. A leather insole 28 is fused to or adhesively secured to the other side of the layer of foam resin 26. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 4, stitching is provided around the periphery of the structure 23 with said titching extending through the canvas layer 24, foam resin 26, and the insole 28. The last mentioned stitching performs the function of reducing the peripheral thickness of the structure 23. Prior to the application of the last mentioned stitching, the laminated structure 23 has a thickness of approximately of an inch with the layer of foam resin 26 having a thickness of about /2 of an inch.

The edges of the structure 23 are concealed by a welt strip 30. The upper edge of the side strip 30 is secured to the laminated structure'23 by a line of stitching 32. The line of stitching 32 is concealed from view and the lowermost edge of the welt strip 30 is disposed between the layer of canvas 24 and the ioutsole 22 and adhesively secured thereto.

A line of stitching 34 in the form of a closed loop is spaced from the periphery of the structure 23. The stitching 34 extends through the insole 28, layer of resin 26, and layer of canvas 24 at the position of the insole 28 which is adapted to support the ball of the foot. Thus, the provision of the stitching 34 substantially eliminates the possibility of slippage between the insole 28 and the layer of foam resin 26. The stitching 34 is provided even though the insole 28 is adhesively secured to the layer of foam resin 26.

The heel portion of the shoe 10 includes a heel support 36 which may be of wood covered with a layer of leather or other material. The outsole 22 extends beneath and is adhesively secured to the heel support 36. A heel 38 is secured to the outsole 22 as illustrated in the drawmg.

It will be noted that the stitching 34 materially reduces the thickness of the laminated structure 23 thereby substantially increasing the height of the structure 23 adjacent thereto. Accordingly, the p-ortion of the structure 23 within the closed loop formed by the stitching 34 is substantially greater than the height of the remainder of the structure 23. This prevents the stitching 34 from becoming a source of irritation to the ball of the foot of the wearer and provides a quilting effect. In actual shoes, it has been found that the most desirable results are attained when the stitching 34 extends from a portion immediately in front of the arch support to a point approximately A of an inch from the tip of the toe, with the stitching 34 being spaced inwardly approximately 4 of an inch from the stitching 32. In this manner, substantially the entire portion of the ball of the foot is supported by that portion of the laminated structure 23 enclosed within the loop formed by the stitching 34. As used hereinafter, the closed loop formed by the stitching 34 may be referred to as a tear-drop shaped closed loop.

The present invention has been illustrated in a shoe 10 which is a Wedgie type sport shoe. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be utilized in substantially every type of shoe for men, women and children.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

' said insole, an intermediate'layer secured to said layer of foam resin, said out'sole being secured to said intermediate layer, and stitching in the form of a closed loop extending through saidinsole and said layer of foam resin, saidloo'p being wholly disposed at the position of said insole adapted to support thexball of the foot, thereby providing a slippage control between said insole and said layer of foam resin.

, I 2. An article of manufacture for use in shoes compris-i ing an insole, a layer of foam resin of, substantially the same size and shape as said insole, said layer of foam resin being secured to said insole so as to form a laminated structure, and stitchingtin the form of a closed loop extending through said insole and said layer of fioam resin, saidloop being wholly disposed at the position of said insole adapted to support a ball of a foot, thereby providing a slippage control between said insole and said layer offoarnresin. 7 3. 'Anlarticle of manufacture for use in shoes comprising an insole, a layer of foam resin of substantially the same size and shape of said insole, said layer of foam resin being adhesively secured to said insole, a layer of canvas adhesively seeured'to said layer of foam resin 7 so as to forma laminated structure, and stitching in the form of a closed loop extending through said insole, layer of foam resin, and canvas layer, 1 aid loop being wholly disposed at the position of said insole adapted to support the ball of the foot thereby providing a slippage control between said insole and said layer of foam resin. 2

4. An article of manufacture in accordance with claim 3 wherein said closed loop is spaced from the periphery of said laminated structure, and stitching adjacent the periphery of said structure extending through said insole, layer of foam resin, and said canvas layer.

5. In a shoecomprising a sole, said sole including an insole spaced from an outsole, said insole and said outsole being of substantially the same contour, a layer of foam resin interposed between said insole and said outsole, said layer of foam resin being of substantially the same contour as said insole and adhesively secured thereto, and

stitching extending through said insole and said layer of;

foam resin at the position of said insole adapted to support the ball of the foot thereby providing a slippage control between said insole and said layer of foam resin. 6. In ashoe in accordance with claim 5 wherein said stitching, extends from a position adjacent to the location adapted to be provided with an arch support to a point adjacent to the tip of the toe of said insole, said stitch ing forming a teardrop shaped closed loop spaced in- Wardly from the periphery of the insole.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Kaplan Ian. 2, 1962 

1. A SHOE COMPRISING AN UPPER, AN OUTSOLE, AN INSOLE SECURED TO SAID UPPER, LAYER OF FOAM RESIN SECURED TO SAID INSOLE, AN INTERMEDIATE LAYER SECURED TO SAID LAYER OF FOAM RESIN, SAID OUTSOLE BEING SECURED TO SAID INTERMEDIATE LAYER, AND STITCHING IN THE FORM OF A CLOSED LOOP EXTENDING THROUGH SAID INSOLE AND SAID LAYER OF FOAM RESIN, SAID LOOP BEING WHOLLY DISPOSED AT THE POSITION OF SAID INSOLE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE BALL OF THE FOOT, THEREBY PROVIDING A SLIPPAGE CONTROL BETWEEN SAID INSOLE AND SAID LAYER OF FOAM RESIN. 